“The Government claims it has an ambitious economic reform agenda, but all we’ve seen over the last two days is rhetoric and self promotion,” said Mr McLaren.

“Instead of putting forward new ways of reforming our tax system, we heard the same old interest groups proposing the same old rent seeking positions.”

“The best we can draw from these two days is the consensus that we need reform – we just can’t agree how or when.”

“While there was plenty of talk about transfers and improving overall welfare, we saw little talk about addressing our future revenue, savings and infrastructure needs. Likewise, only a passing mention about a possible Sovereign Wealth Fund. Yet again, Unions and Business groups have refused to give any ground on their positions.”

“Left Right’s position on introducing congestion-based road charges was pushed aside by the Treasurer, even with the support from many on the environmental taxes panel.”

“It’s clear there have been many vested interests at the forum, but if the purpose was to have a conversation about setting Australia’s economy on the right course for the future then the Government needs to respond with clear goals and objectives for the future.”

Left Right believes that Australia’s tax system should be utilised for the purpose of shaping Australia and ensuring economic prosperity through the efficient allocation of resources and public goods for the generations to come.

“We applaud the Government for bringing this group together. We should be fostering thought on economic and taxation reform. However, this conversation should have happened at the time of the Henry Review, not two years later.”

“The forum might have come to an end, but the conversation hasn’t.”
Big issues can no longer afford to be ignored, and the Government needs to do everything in its power to ensure that Australia moves towards and fairer and simpler tax system that can sustain growth and minimise economic volatility.

Left Right will continue to advocate for a congestion-based road charge along with fixed price cost offsets to improve infrastructure and public transport.

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The two-day Future Tax Forum begins in Canberra on the 4th of October. In attendance will be Left Right’s Queensland Policy Manager, Alexander McLaren.

“The response outlines our belief that the taxation system needs reform in order to remove the growing number of inefficient and archaic taxes.”

“It’s critical for the Government to adopt long-term policy reforms that will guarantee our current prosperity for future generations,” says Mr McLaren.

“We’re currently ignoring the big issues, like meeting our future budget revenue requirements, in favour of short-term political point-scoring. We need to move away from adding new clauses and finding new loopholes and move towards a fairer and simpler tax system.”

Download the Media Release

Download the Media Release